St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Nonpartisan election measure moves to St. Louis’ November ballot”

“Political party labels could become a thing of the past in most St. Louis races if city voters approve a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.

A petition group’s plan to elect future mayors and aldermen in nonpartisan elections ended up on the ballot after the Board of Aldermen — all Democrats — failed to enact the measure into law.

‘This brings the city in line with most of the nation,’ said Mallory Rusch, campaign manager for the group, STL Approves.

She noted that choosing city officials with no party label by their name on the ballot is the norm in all other Missouri municipalities and those in many other states.

At the same time, Rusch said, another feature in the proposition called approval voting gives St. Louisans ‘the opportunity to be on the cutting edge’ by adding a process that’s relatively unusual.

Under that process, residents cast a vote for as many candidates for an office as they want in the city primary of odd-numbered years.

The top two vote-getters then would advance to a runoff in the April general election.

Supporters say the change would reduce the impact of ‘spoiler candidates’ who draw support away from those with broader support.”

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